Founded in 2016, SEAir Solutions propels marine innovation with its bespoke hydrofoil systems. Key benefits of hydrofoil systems include a significant reduction in drag and wake, enabling energy savings, increased speed, comfort and stability for passengers. These systems can be integrated regardless of the type of power supply, whether conventional, hybrid diesel-electric or all-electric.
From design to commissioning, the Breton company pushes the boundaries for faster, smoother and more sustainable navigation !
The project
Context
SEAir Solutions wanted to modernize and optimize its design and manufacturing processes, in order to continue innovating and accelerate lead times. The aim was to improve collaboration between its teams, reduce errors and speed up the transition from design to production.
To meet these challenges, SEAir Solutions drew on Siemens' advanced CAD / CAE / CAM solutions and on the expertise of its partners JANUS Engineering and SIGMEO.
Case study : SEAir Solutions optimizes its processes thanks to the digital twin and Siemens CAD / CAE / CAM solutions
Challenges
Prior to this transition, the company faced a number of challenges:
- Lack of integration between design and manufacturing : 3D design models were not always directly usable in simulation & manufacturing, resulting in rework and wasted time.
- Limited collaboration : design, simulation and production teams worked in silos, slowing down the exchange of information.
- Performance optimization : SEAir Solutions was looking for a more agile and reliable approach to simulating, testing and validating its designs before production.
Solutions implemented
Thanks to the collaboration with Janus Engineering and SIGMEO, SEAir Solutions was able to :
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Integrate advanced CAD / CAE / CAM solutions to create a digital chain : the adoption of NX CAD for Computer Aided Design and Simcenter for Simulation has enabled a seamless transition from design to simulation to manufacturing, reducing errors and improving efficiency.
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Fostering a culture of collaboration : By working closely with like-minded partners, SEAir Solutions was able to build team spirit and increased collaboration between departments, while making it easier to understand its new tools. In fact, JANUS engineering provided tailor-made advice and training to ensure the adoption of the solutions by the teams.
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Modernizing processes : Integrating modern technologies has kept the company at the forefront of innovation in the maritime sector.
The digital twin: a revolution for SEAir Solutions
By integrating Siemens solutions and working with Janus Engineering and SIGMEO, SEAir Solutions has adopted digital twin technology.
The digital twin is a faithful virtual replica of the physical product, integrating design, simulation and manufacturing data. It enables each component to be tested, analyzed and optimized upstream, thus reducing costs and production times.
With this approach, SEAir Solutions was able to :
- Digitally validate designs before manufacturing: fewer errors and fewer physical prototypes.
- Simulate product behavior in real-life conditions to anticipate performance and durability.
- Improve collaboration between teams, with a single database accessible to all.
Using NX for next-level collaboration
One of the first tools SEAir Solutions adopted from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio was NX,
a computer-aided design (CAD) solution popular with many naval architects. With over 20 years' experience in hull design and systems integration, Nicolas Philippe, naval architect in charge of research and design (R&D) at SEAir Solutions, was one of the members to see the immediate benefits.
"As we worked with European partners on the 20-meter boat, we had to exchange a lot of information with them," explains Philippe. "NX is convenient and important for us because we can integrate all the system information into the digital twin, which allows us to speed up the ship design process."
SEAir Solutions, first and foremost an engineering company
SEAir Solutions takes marine engineering and innovation seriously, constantly working on new designs and concepts. In addition to leisure markets, the company has applied its excellence in naval design and architecture to more utilitarian vessels. These include a 20-meter stealth aircraft for the European Defense Agency (EDA) and a foiling crew transfer catamaran (CTV) for the offshore wind energy industry.
"Our business model is very engineering-driven," explains Forest. "This includes hydrodynamic and structural design, systems definition, flight control retractability, durability and quality."
To achieve this, the SEAir Solutions team knew that the use of simulation would be a game-changer. Thanks to advances in computing power and simulation capabilities, the digital twin is being used in traditional naval architecture, and they needed to embrace it too. This includes interconnected design, component development, system simulation and sizing for full ship integration.
"The innovation lies not in the foil itself, but in the use of simulation tools," explains Richard Forest, chief executive officer (CEO) and co-founder of SEAir Solution. "For example, with the SEAir Solutions process, we simulate boats on the computer, then take a physical prototype out to sea and it works first time."
Concrete results
Since adopting the digital twin and Siemens tools, SEAir Solutions has observed :
- Fewer manufacturing errors thanks to precise digital validation.
- Significant time savings on product development and production start-up, with 25% less time spent on design.
- Improved collaboration between teams thanks to an integrated, fluid workflow.
Lhe integration of the digital twin with Siemens CAD / CAE / CAM solutions has transformed the way SEAir Solutions designs and manufactures its products. By reducing errors, optimizing performance and accelerating development, this approach enables them to gain agility, efficiency and competitiveness in the marine market.
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Watch the SEAir Solutions CEO's video interview with JANUS Engineering, Sigmeo & Siemens